Adjustable keyboard-transposing adapter and instrument

ABSTRACT

In a keyboard instrument transposing adapters are provided to releasably connect between the key levers and the sound-actuating mechanisms so that a musical selection played in a key according to the key levers on the keyboard is transposed to produce sounds of a different key. Each adapter has members arranged for extensible and retractable sliding movement therebetween to adjust to a variety of distances between different key levers and sound-actuating mechanisms with a locking lever being operatively associated with the slidable members to hold them against further relative movement once the desired length is established. A plurality of the transposing adapters are arranged generally parallel to one another in the instrument and they extend upwardly on a diagonal to either side from the attachment at the key lever to the actuating mechanism.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Jae P. Rogers I 1186 Yost St.,Aurora, Colo. 80010 [21] Appl. No. 37,281 I [22] Filed May 14, 1970 [45]Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [54] ADJUSTABLE KEYBOARD-TRANSPOSING ADAPTER ANDINSTRUMENT 17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 84/448 [51] lnt.Cl Gl0c 3/12 [50] Field of Search. 84/442,445, 448

[5 6] References Cited UNHED STATES PATENTS 602,681 4/1898 Dierdorf.....84/448 1,200,422 10/1916 Hinderman.... 84/448 Primary ExaminerRichard B.Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Att0rneyReilly & LewisABSTRACT: In a keyboard instrument transposing adapters are provided toreleasably connect between the key levers and the sound-actuatingmechanisms so that a musical selection played in a key according to thekey levers on the keyboard is transposed to produce sounds of adifferent key. Each adapter has members arranged for extensible andretractable sliding movement therebetween to adjust to a variety ofdistances between different key levers and sound-actuating mechanismswith a locking lever being operatively associated with the slidablemembers to hold them against further relative movement once the desiredlength is established. A plurality of the transposing adapters arearranged generally parallel to one another in the instrument and theyextend upwardly on a diagonal to either side from the attachment at thekey lever to the actuating mechanism.

PATENTEDnm 19 197i SHEET 1 0F 2 3. 6 13.494

QQQQQMQQ f v1 0 QQW Wlhhxmu INVENTOR JAE P. ROG RS TTORNE s ADJUSTABLEKEYBOARD-TRANSPOSING ADAPTER AND INSTRUMENT This invention relates toanew and useful improvement in transposing keyboard instruments and moreparticularly to a novel transposing adapter for keyboard instruments anda transposing keyboard instrument utilizing a plurality of the adapters.

The purpose of transposing the keyboard of instruments such as pianos,organs and accordions and the like is that it permits persons having theability to play in a familiar key such as the key of C to produce musicin other keys using the fingering on the keyboard for the familiar key.Some attempts have been made to provide shifting structures to shift thekeyboard from side to side for transposing the music. Such transposingdevices, however, require substantial modification of the conventionalinstruments and would necessitate a new design with more space at eachend thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedadapter for transposing a keyboard instrument to a higher or lower keythan that in which the music is written while fingering the key leversin a familiar key.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel extensible andretractable adapter for use in keyboard instruments which is applicableto a wide variety of keyboard instruments.

Yet a further object of this invention is provide a novel transposingadapter which can be readily applied to conventional pianos withoutchanging the piano design.

In accordance with the present invention, in a preferred embodimentthere is provided a readily extensible and retractable adapter whichreleasably interconnects between a selected key lever and a selectedactuating mechanism for each soundgenerating string in a piano. Theadapter comprises a wire rod and a tubular body slidably telescopingover the rod. A lock latch on the tubular body moves between a lockedposition in which the wire rod is prevented from moving in the tubularbody and a released position where the rod has free sliding movementwithin the tubular body. For the piano illustrated the upper end of thetubular body has an aperture through which the bridle wire secured onthe piano action elbow extends and the lower end of the wire rod is bentto a particular shape and inserts into an aperture in the capstan on therear of the key lever. A flexible band is provided to firmly butreleasably secure the lower end of the wire rod to the capstan and afastening collar firmly secures the tubular body to the bridle wire sothat the motion imparted to the key lever is transmitted to the actionelbow and in turn to the soundgenerating'strings. In a transposinginstrument a plurality of adapters are arranged substantially inparallel to one another and diagonally upwardly to either side of thekey lever to produce sound in a selected transposed instrument key.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the resent invention willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation view of a portion of a pianowhich has been transposed to play in the key of F using the fingering atthe keyboard for the key of C;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front elevation view showing a portion of thepiano in FIG. 1 which has been transposed to play in the key of G usingthe fingering at the keyboard for the key of C;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front elevation view of one piano action elbowand the range of positions of each adapter;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of an adapter connected in the pianorepresented in FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the adapter connected in the piano inF [6. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there isshown the general organization and arrangement of a transposing pianoembodying features of the present invention. The piano parts shown anddescribed are those of a standard 191i Bachmann upright piano Ser. No.46419. This instrument has a keyboard 11 with 88 key" levers eachrepresented by numeral 12 arrangedside-by side at one eleva tion and 88piano action elbows each represented by numeral 13 arranged side by sideat a higher elevation than the key levers with the piano action elbowsbeing supported on the lower support portion of a bridle bar 14. Aplurality of adapters 15 releasably cross-connect between a particularkey lever 12 and a particular piano action elbow 13 as described morefully hereinafter. The sound-reproducing members of the piano are thestrings located above the piano action elbows with only one beingrepresented at 16. While a piano has been illustrated, it is understoodthat the present invention is applicable to other types of keyboardinstruments, such as, organs, accordions and the like. Each string orgroup of strings of the piano has an actuating mechanism or actionmechanism including the action elbow l3, striker rod 17, striker l8,hammer rod 19, and hammer 20 for causing the string or a group ofstrings to generate a sound when the hammer 20 is moved rearwardly.While only one string and an associated actuating mechanism has beenshown and represented in FIG. 1, it is understood that the piano has atleast one string and complete actuating mechanism for each piano actionelbow 13 and key lever 12.

In the conventional piano, there is a key lever, actuating mechanism anda string or group of strings which are normally operativelyinterconnected for playing in a particular key and these members arehereinafter referred to as corresponding members. The corresponding keylevers and action elbows are normally in a substantially verticalalignment so that the motion imparted to the key lever by the fingers isnormally directed substantially vertically upward from the key lever tothe action elbow. The corresponding key levers and piano action elbowsfor the normal or conventional piano are designated on the drawings withkey designations which, proceeding from left to right for both the keylevers and the piano action elbows, are A, B B, C, C D, E E, F, F G andA and the sequence repeats from left to right with the last of theaction elbows and key levers at the right side of the piano having a Cdesignation. Some deviation from the actual vertical alignment forcorresponding members results from having leftand right-side supportposts 2] and 22 for structural strength purposes which are shown asseparating intermediate of the piano action elbows 13. The instrumentshown is arranged with a group of 28 piano action elbows to the left ofleft post 21 designated group I. There is a second group of 28 pianoaction elbows designated group ll between the left and right sides ofthe posts 21 and 22, and a third group of 32 piano action elbowsdesignated as group III to the right of the right post 22.

The transposing adapters 15 are connected in FIG. 1 so that sounds inthe key of F are produced using the key of C fingering on the key levers12 and for this setting each adapter 15 extends diagonally upwardly fromone key lever toward the left side of the instrument to connect with apiano action elbow which is substantially offset to the left of theassociated key lever to which it is connected. The key lever designatedC for the key of C is shown as connected to the piano action elbowdesignated F and the next adjacent adapter connects the adjacent keylever designated B to the piano action elbow designated E and theseconnections proceeding from left to right then repeat so that in thecomplete instrument the adapters 15 are substantially parallel inengagement and along diagonal lines. It is to be noted that with thisdiagonal arrangement of the adapters 15 the first seven key levers onthe left side of the keyboard are not in use and the last seven pianoelbows on the right side of the piano are not in use.

For transposing from the key of C to the key of G the arrangement forthe adapters is shown for the group lll portion of the piano in FIG. 2as representative. Here, each adapter 15 extends diagonally upwardly andtoward the right side from the key lever to an associated piano actionelbow. The full range of possible interconnections between a pianoaction elbow and a key lever for each adapter 15 is representeddiagrammatically in FIG. 3. Adapter 15 is shown in the conventionalposition connecting the key lever designated C to a correspondingpiano'action elbow designated C and in this setting adapter has avertical attitude. The variation from this setting for each adapter is arange to the left, to one of seven key levers which is up in key and tothe right to one of seven key levers which is down in key so that,including the conventional connection of key lever designated C to pianoaction elbow designated C, there is a possibility of 15 settings orconnections for the adapter 15 for each setting the length of theadapter is different. ln HO. 3 the key levers are given a mechanical keydesignation corresponding to that of FIG. 1 and a musical keydesignation below the key lever showing whether the transposition is upor down.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, each white key lever has a leadweight 25 to equalize its center of gravity with that of the shorterblack key levers which facilitates an even touch during the playing ofthe piano. A capstan 26 with an aperture 260 is mounted along the top atthe rear of key lever. The forward portion of a piano action elbow 13rests on a lower section of a bridle bar 14 above the capstan 26. Thestriker rod 17 is embedded in and extends upwardly from the top of theaction elbow 13 as a part of the interconnecting linkage to the strikerrod 17. A bridlewire 28 is also embedded in and extends upwardly fromthe top of the piano action elbow 13. Normally, the piano is equippedwith a straight wooden actuating rod of a given length, not shown, totransmit motion between the key lever 12 and the piano action elbow 13.This actuating rod normally seats on top of the capstan 26 and ispivotally connected along the underside of the piano action elbow with ahinge pin. Another connecting rod, not shown, extends rearwardly of theactuating rod and is pivotally connected at both ends to the lower endof the actuating rod and to a lower action rail, not shown. In modifyingthe conventional piano, the above-described upper hinge pin is removedthe actuating rod is then moved to an out-of-the-way position at therear or fully removed from the piano. Also in the modification of aconventional piano the bridle strap wire 28 normally extends upwardlyand outwardly and has a curved end portion but this is modified so thatit is straight and extends directly forwardly of the top of the-pianoaction elbow as shown.

Each transposing adapter 15 shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises alower solid wire rod 31 which slidably interfits or telescopes in anupper tubular body 32 to facilitate the changing of the effective lengthbetween .the opposite ends of the rods 31 and the tubular body 32, bysliding the rod in and out of the tubular body. In order to lock thetubular body and rod against sliding movement once the desired length isachieved, there is provided a locking lever 33 which pivotally mounts onthe side of the tubular body. For pivotally supporting the locking lever33, there is provided a yokelike collar member having a pair of spacedside arms 35 and 36 to slidably receive the locking lever 33 and a pivotpin 37 extends through apertures in the arms and the locking lever. Thissupports the locking lever 33 so that it will pivot from an upstandingout-of-the-engagement position where it has a vertical attitude to theforwardly projecting locking position shown in full lines. The inneredge 33a of the locking lever is curved or rounded and extends throughan elongated vertical slot 38 along the side of the tubular body throughwhich the curved edge 33a will extend when pivoted downwardly to thelocked position so as to bear directly against the wire rod 31- andforce it into a frictional engagement between the inner surface of thetubular body and the curved surface 33a of the lever 33 and in this waythe tubular body and wire rod are locked together to prevent furtherrelative movement therebetween.

The wire rod 31 is provided with a releasable connector portion at itslower end portion and to this end it is bent along its length into aparticular configuration which includes an upper straight section 31a onwhich the tubular body slides, and a lower hooklike portion having agradually inclined section 31!; which extends rearwardly, a rearwardlyinclined extending section 31c which extends along the horizontal, and agradually inclined upturned end section 31d. The wire rod shown is 1/ l6-inch piano-type wire having a uniform cross section and is of a sizeso that the lower end sections 310 and 31d will slidably insert into thecapstan aperture 26a. The tubular body may be made of brass or likerelatively heavy material which assists in the piano playing action. Acollar 41 on the inclined rod section 31b has a setserew 42 threaded inthe collar to lock it at a selected position. A flexible band 43 ofrubber or the like extends around the wire rod section 31b and is heldby the locking collar 41, the band 43 then extends over the capstan, andaround the upturned end section 31d to releasably secure the lower endof the wire rod to the capstan 26. A section of rubber tubing 44 isdisposed on the wire rod between the collar 41 and the capstan 26 toprovide a damping effect during the playing of the instrument. Theflexible band 43 serves to hold the lower end of the rod in place and tohold the key levers level in their normal position.

At the upper end of the adapter 15 there is provided a releasableconnector portion in the form of an aperture 45 in tubular body 32 whichis sized to slide over projecting outturned end of the bridle wire 28.Clearance is provided between the wall of aperture 45 and the bridlewire. Again, a length of flexible tubing 46 of rubber or the like isprovided between the elbow 13 and the tubular body 32 and another lengthof flexible tubing 47 on the outer end of the tubular body 32 to providefor the damping of noise. A locking collar 48 having a setserew 49 isdisposed on the other end of the bridle wire 28 and engages tubing 47 tohold the tubular body on the bridle wire. This attachment at the upperend of the tubular body permits the adapter to pivot about bridle wire28 and swing from side to side through a substantial angle asrepresented in dashed lines in FIG. 4 and also shown in FIG. 3 toconnect to the selected key lever 12.

For changing the setting of the instrument from one key to another keythe inner end of band 43 is slipped over the outer end section 31d ofthe wire rod and the wire rod is then moved forwardly and out of thecapstan aperture 260. The lock lever 33 is pivoted up to its releaseposition so that its curved edge 33a no longer bears against the wirerod 31 and the wire rod is then free to slide in the tubular body topermit lengthening or shortening of the distance between the oppositeends thereof so as to extend a selected key lever 12 and a selectedpiano action elbow according to the key desired. The lower end sectionof the wire rod is then inserted into the selected capstan aperture and,once the rod 31 is in place on the capstan, the flexible band 43 isslipped over the free end section 31d and the lock lever 33 is pivoteddown to the lock position shown so that it again bears against the innerwall of the tube to lock it against relative sliding movementtherebetween. This is repeated for each next adjacent key lever andpiano action elbow and so on across the piano. In the playing of theinstrument the motion imparted by the fingers to each key lever 12 istransmitted through the adapter 15 to the piano action elbow 13 which inturn will cause the movement of the striker hammer against the string orstrings to produce musical sounds.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the transposing adapter andinstrument will materially assist composers, pianists and the like intransposing to a desired and appropriate key. Songs written for otherinstruments and in difficult keys can be played with greater ease.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degreeof particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade by way of example and that changes in details of structure may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A transposing adapter for a keyboard instrument arranged to transmitmotion between selected key levers and sound-actuating elbows of theinstrument, said adapter comprising first and second telescopingmembers, said members being longitudinally slidable one relative to theother to adjust to a selected length between the opposite end portionsthereof and having the opposite end portions adapted to releasablyconnect between a selected key lever and a selected sound-actuatingelbow, and releasable lock means to hold said first and second membersagainst relative movement therebetween when said end portions areconnected between a selected key lever and sound-actuating elbow.

2. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said firstmember is in the form of a tubular body and said second member is in theform of a wire rod which telescopes in said tubular body. 7

3. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tubularbody has an aperture adjacent its outer end for slidably receiving acomplementary outwardly projecting section on the sound-actuating elbowon the instrument about which the tubular body may pivot.

4. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wire rodis sized to extend through a receiving aperture operatively associatedwith the key lever.

5. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 4 wherein said wire rodis bent to provide a generally hooklike lower end portion with a gradualupturned outer end.

6. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 2, said releasable lockmeans includes a pivotal lever arranged to pivot between an uprightrelease position permitting slidable movement between said member and aforwardly extending lock position preventing further sliding movement.

7. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 6 wherein said lever hasa rounded inner edge adjacent the pivot which extends through a verticalslot in the tubular body to force the wire rod against an inner sidewallof the tubular body to lock said tubular body and wire rod together.

8. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tubularbody is made of a relatively heavy metal material.

9. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wire rodis a piano-type wire.

10. In a keyboard instrument having a keyboard with a plurality of keylevers, a plurality of actuating elbows adapted to cause the actuationof a plurality of sound-generating strings for producing sounds indifferent keys, and a plurality of transposing adapters for transmittingmotion between selected key levers and selected actuating elbows so thata musical selection played in a selected key according to the fingeringon the keyboard is transposed to another key at the sound-generatingstrings, each said adapter including first and second longitudinallyadjustable telescoping members, said telescoping members beinglongitudinally slidable one relative to the other to adjust to aselected length between the opposite end portions thereof and having theopposite end connector portions releasably connected between a selectedkey lever and a selected actuating elbow and a releasable lock to holdsaid first and second members against relative movement therebetweenonce said members are positioned between a selected key lever and aselected actuating elbow.

11. In a keyboard instrument as set forth in claim 10 wherein eachadapter extends from the selected key lever upwardly along a diagonalline to the selected actuating elbow and the adapters are arrangedsubstantially parallel to one another between adjacent key levers andactuating elbow.

12. in a keyboard instrument as set forth in claim 11 wherein eachadapter pivots at its point of attachment to the actuating elbow toswing from side to side to connect the end connector portion with aselected key lever on either side of a key lever vertically in line withthe attached actuating elbow.

13. In a keyboard instrument as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidadapter extends to one of seven key levers on either side of the keylever vertically in line with the attached actuating elbow.

14. In a piano having a keyboard including a plurality offinger-actuated key levers with a capstan at the rear of each lever, aplurality of actuating mechanisms with each mechanism including anaction elbow with a bridle wire, sound-generating strings actuated bythe actuating mechanism to produce sounds in difierent keys, theactuating mechanism and key lever for playing in a particular key beingin a substantlally vertical alignment, a plurality of transposingadapters for transmitting motion between selected key levers andselected actuating mechanisms so that a musical selection played in aselected key according to the fingering on the keyboard is transposed toanother key at the strings, each said adapter including an upper tubularbody and a lower wire rod slidably telescoping in the tubular body, saidtubular body having an aperture receiving the bridle wire on theassociated action elbow and said wire rod having an end portion insertedinto an aperture on an associated capstan of a selected key lever, areleasable lock pivotally mounted on the tubular body to lock againstfurther sliding movement after said tubular body and wire rod are inplace between a selected key lever and a selected actuating mechanism.

15. In a piano as set forth in claim 14 wherein said wire rod has agenerally hooklike lower end portion disposed in the capstan with anupturned lower end projecting rearwardly from the capstan and a flexibleband extending around the hooklike lower end portion to secure the wirerod to the capstan.

16. In a piano as set forth in claim 15 including a locking collar onthe hooklike portion to hold the band and a length of flexible tubing onthe wire rod between the collar and capstan and to dampen vibrations.

17. In a piano as set forth in claim 15 including a locking collar onthe end of the bridle wire to releasably secure the tubular body to theaction elbow and a flexible tubing between the locking collar andtubular body and between the tubular body and action elbow to dampensound vibrations.

1. A transposing adapter for a keyboard instrument arranged to transmitmotion between selected key levers and sound-actuating elbows of theinstrument, said adapter comprising first and second telescopingmembers, said members being longitudinally slidable one relative to theother to adjust to a selected length between the opposite end portionsthereof and having the opposite end portions adapted to releasablyconnect between a selected key lever and a selected sound-actuatingelbow, and releasable lock means to hold said first and second membersagainst relative movement therebetween when said end portions areconnected between a selected key lever and sound-actuating elbow.
 2. Atransposing adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first member isin the form of a tubular body and said second member is in the form of awire rod which telescopes in said tubular body.
 3. A transposing adapteras set forth in claim 2 wherein said tubular body has an apertureadjacent its outer end for slidably receiving a complementary outwardlyprojecting section on the sound-actuating elbow on the instrument aboutwhich the tubular body may pivot.
 4. A transposing adapter as set forthin claim 2 wherein said wire rod is sized to extend through a receivingaperture operatively associated with the key lever.
 5. A transposingadapter as set forth in claim 4 wherein said wire rod is bent to providea generally hooklike lower end portion with a gradual upturned outerend.
 6. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 2, said releasablelock means includes a pivotal lever arranged to pivot between an uprightrelease position permitting slidable movement between said member and aforwardly extending lock position preventing further sliding movement.7. A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 6 wherein said leVer hasa rounded inner edge adjacent the pivot which extends through a verticalslot in the tubular body to force the wire rod against an inner sidewallof the tubular body to lock said tubular body and wire rod together. 8.A transposing adapter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tubular bodyis made of a relatively heavy metal material.
 9. A transposing adapteras set forth in claim 2 wherein said wire rod is a piano-type wire. 10.In a keyboard instrument having a keyboard with a plurality of keylevers, a plurality of actuating elbows adapted to cause the actuationof a plurality of sound-generating strings for producing sounds indifferent keys, and a plurality of transposing adapters for transmittingmotion between selected key levers and selected actuating elbows so thata musical selection played in a selected key according to the fingeringon the keyboard is transposed to another key at the sound-generatingstrings, each said adapter including first and second longitudinallyadjustable telescoping members, said telescoping members beinglongitudinally slidable one relative to the other to adjust to aselected length between the opposite end portions thereof and having theopposite end connector portions releasably connected between a selectedkey lever and a selected actuating elbow and a releasable lock to holdsaid first and second members against relative movement therebetweenonce said members are positioned between a selected key lever and aselected actuating elbow.
 11. In a keyboard instrument as set forth inclaim 10 wherein each adapter extends from the selected key leverupwardly along a diagonal line to the selected actuating elbow and theadapters are arranged substantially parallel to one another betweenadjacent key levers and actuating elbow.
 12. In a keyboard instrument asset forth in claim 11 wherein each adapter pivots at its point ofattachment to the actuating elbow to swing from side to side to connectthe end connector portion with a selected key lever on either side of akey lever vertically in line with the attached actuating elbow.
 13. In akeyboard instrument as set forth in claim 12 wherein said adapterextends to one of seven key levers on either side of the key leververtically in line with the attached actuating elbow.
 14. In a pianohaving a keyboard including a plurality of finger-actuated key leverswith a capstan at the rear of each lever, a plurality of actuatingmechanisms with each mechanism including an action elbow with a bridlewire, sound-generating strings actuated by the actuating mechanism toproduce sounds in different keys, the actuating mechanism and key leverfor playing in a particular key being in a substantially verticalalignment, a plurality of transposing adapters for transmitting motionbetween selected key levers and selected actuating mechanisms so that amusical selection played in a selected key according to the fingering onthe keyboard is transposed to another key at the strings, each saidadapter including an upper tubular body and a lower wire rod slidablytelescoping in the tubular body, said tubular body having an aperturereceiving the bridle wire on the associated action elbow and said wirerod having an end portion inserted into an aperture on an associatedcapstan of a selected key lever, a releasable lock pivotally mounted onthe tubular body to lock against further sliding movement after saidtubular body and wire rod are in place between a selected key lever anda selected actuating mechanism.
 15. In a piano as set forth in claim 14wherein said wire rod has a generally hooklike lower end portiondisposed in the capstan with an upturned lower end projecting rearwardlyfrom the capstan and a flexible band extending around the hooklike lowerend portion to secure the wire rod to the capstan.
 16. In a piano as setforth in claim 15 including a locking collar on the hooklike portion tohold the band and a length of flexible tubing on the wire rod betweenthe collar and capstan and to dampen vibrations.
 17. In a piano as setforth in claim 15 including a locking collar on the end of the bridlewire to releasably secure the tubular body to the action elbow and aflexible tubing between the locking collar and tubular body and betweenthe tubular body and action elbow to dampen sound vibrations.